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Eric Funk was born in Montana in 1949. He studied composition with Tomas Svoboda, Sandor Veress, and Krzysztof Penderecki and interviewed Nadia Boulanger in Paris [1977] specific to her composition pedagogy. Recipient of the first Ruth Lorraine Close Fellowship for graduate study in composition at University of Oregon [1973], Funk holds degrees from Portland State University and is ABD in the tri-university doctoral program [Portland State, University of Oregon, Oregon State University]. Currently on the faculty at Montana State University and the 2007 President’s Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, he teaches for the University Honors College, College of Letters and Science, and for the music department [composition, orchestration]. He also serves as artistic director and host for Montana PBS-TV “11th & Grant with Eric Funk”, the Emmy Award winning showcase for Montana musicians, all genres, now in its 4th season.
Eric Funk has composed 107 major works, one third of which were commissions, including seven symphonies, four operas, sixteen concerti, five string quartets, numerous large and small choral works and chamber works. There are currently five CDs of his music available, featuring performances by: the Warsaw Philharmonic [Jerzy Swoboda]; Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra [Vladimir Valek]; Latvian National Symphony Orchestra [Terje Mikkelsen]; Moyzes String Quartet; and, Elizabeth Croy. Included are five of his seven symphonies, the oboe concerto [Martin Schuring] and cello concerto [Olga Ogranovich], piano concerto #1 [Philip Aaberg], and his String Quartet #2 “In memoriam Shostakovich”. Funk’s music has been performed twice at Carnegie Hall and he has been featured on NPR [Performance Today, Morning Edition], CBS-TV [Sunday Morning - Charles Osgood] resulting from a front page feature story in the Arts & Leisure Section of the New York Times, Themes & Variations, The Composer Next Door, Classical Music Archives, and Marvin Rosen’s “Classical Discoveries”.
From 1994-2002, Eric Funk was music director and conductor of the Helena Symphony Orchestra [Helena, Montana]. From 1994-1999, he was conductor of the Gallatin Chamber Orchestra in Bozeman, Montana, which he co-founded.
Eric Funk is currently working on his 8th symphony and preparing for a tour to SE Asia for performances of his 2nd piano concerto and orchestral work “LIDICE” in Hanoi, Bangkok, and Singapore. A new CD of his art songs is underway and will be recorded [2009-10] by Elizabeth Croy [soprano] & Julie Gosswiller [piano]. Upcoming premiers and performances include Dona Nobis Pacem [timpani concerto], Dance Concertare for Marimba & Chamber Orchestra, Four Songs on Poems by Sara Teasdale, Universe-Solitude, Villancicos [soprano & string quartet], Concerto for Bassoon & Brass Choir, The Circle Within [trumpet concerto], Portraits [five movements for violin & double bass], Sojourner’s Eye [tenor voice & orchestra], Piano Concerto #2, and Violin Concerto #2.
A complete list of works, reviews, awards, and more information are located on his web site: http://www.ericfunk.com.
Eric Funk's catalog consists of five releases: three on the MMC label and two independent releases - all in current distribution.
MMC Music:
Four orchestral works with the Prague Radio Symphony: Symphony No. 1, the orchestral suite “Lidice,” the Cello Concerto,and the Oboe Concerto String Quartet No. 2 by the Moyzes String Quartet of Bratislava, Symphonies No. 3 and 4 with the Prague Radio Symphony and the Warsaw Philharmonic
Independent releases:
Symphony No. 5, Opus 77, "Dante Ascending" Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the Latvian National Opera Chorus conducted by Terje Mikkelsen, The Romantic Music of Eric Funk: "Rhayader" - music for the ballet, Piano Concerto Op 71, Philip Aaberg, piano, Symphony No 2 "Montana" Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Terje Mikkelsen
2006 Events:
June, 2006, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Terje Mikkelsen, conductor; British musicians recording Eric Funk's music in Riga:
Concerto for Double Bass & Orchestra, Op. 85
Concerto No 1 for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 70
Concerto No 2 for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 98
Concerto No 2 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 96
Four Songs on Poems of Sara Teasdale (for soprano & string orchestra)
2005 Events:
Nov 27th, 2005, Frederick Frey (baritone)singing with the New Jersey City University Symphonic Wind Ensemble "TheSeasons, Op 56"
April, 2005 - "Composer-in-residence at the British and International Double Bass Forum joint, international Bass-Fest/Violin Fest where a concert of Funk's music was presented.
2004 Events:
February 29 - University of Montana, David Heyes (double bass)with String Orchestra of the Rockies
- Concerto for Double Bass, Strings, Horn, & Timpani, Op 85 (world premier)
March 30, Montana State University, Johan Jonsson (violin)with Montana State University Orchestra
- Violin Concerto, Op 70
April 18, Carnegie Hall, Belgrade & Hawthorne Children's Choirs w/New England Symphonic Ensemble
- The Seasons, Op. 56
- From the Dreams of Montana Children. Op 90
- I Love Music
April 22, Montana State University, Lawrence Gwozdz (Alto Saxophone), Montana State University Orchestra
New works include:
Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Chamber Orchestra, Op 92 - commissioned by, written for and dedicated to Lawrence Gwozdz
Concerto for Flute & Chamber Orchestra, Op 93 - commissioned by, written for and dedicated to Hubert Laws.
Recent premiered works include:
one-act solo opera for contralto and ballet troupe “Akhmatova,” based on key texts from the Russian poet’s life
the Violin Concerto, and the song cycles “Góngora” (baritone and chamber orchestra on texts by the Spanish baroque poet)
“Sequentia” (contralto and 9-person chamber ensemble on texts by Paul Celan).
Recent works include:
the massive score of "Mandelstam: a Valediction to the 20th Century,” a work in 5 movements for large chorus, two orchestras, and amplified string quartet, based on poems by the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam, which was commissioned by the Gallatin Performing Arts Center for their future grand opening.
Commissions from:
the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphonic Choir, Northwest Repertory Dance Company, Composers’ Ensemble, Imperial Brass,Portland Ballet Company, Portland Brass Quintet, Oregon Arts Commission, Metropolitan Arts Commission, Montana Arts Council, Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, Gallatin Performing Arts Center, Recital Music of Great Britain, American Composers Forum/Continental Harmonies Project for "From the Dreams of Montana Children" to be premiered April 12, 2003 in Ennis, Montana as part of the Madison River Music Festival, and numerous individuals.
ERIC FUNK has won:
2009 Montana State University Distinguished Faculty Award from the University Honors College
13 ASCAP Standard Awards
2001 Governor's Award for the Arts (Montana)
the Northwest Repertory Dance Company Composition Competition
the Margaret Jory Grant
the 1986 Pacific First Federal Composition Contest
three Arts Commission Fellowships.
composition fellowship at the Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf (Brandenburg, Germany) summer 1996
ERIC FUNK'S catalog includes over 80 works (including 25 commissions), comprising:
12 works for orchestra
15 concertos
6 ballet scores
3 operas
3 large works for chorus and orchestra
3 works for brass ensemble
Numerous chamber works for various ensembles and pieces for voice and for solo instruments
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